Chapter Text
After eating breakfast they went to the train station. Nicky knew he should hold onto Booker's hand until the train stopped. It was an agreement they had.
"We need to find seats 6 and 8," Booker said after lifting Nicky up the few stairs. "On your right side."
Together with Booker's help they soon sat down on their seats.
"Will you tell me where we're going now?" Nicky wanted to know.
"Visiting a Christmas village up north," Booker replied. "Since you love Christmas."
Nicky let out a squeal of joy that made everyone in the train wagon look at them. Most of them smiled but some looked irritated. Booker was still happy that Nicky never had to see that. How people looked at a blind kid.
"I can't wait," Nicky said and held up Trixie. "And so goes for Trixie. I want to try out every Christmas cookie there is, together with hot chocolate."
"You can have that after you had lunch," Booker replied. Nicky rolled his eyes in response because he couldn't understand why he couldn't eat cookies the entire day. "But first we have to meet Bridget."
"Who's Bridget?" Nicky wanted to know. "Is she nice?"
"You'll see soon enough, and yes, when I spoke with her she seemed nice," Booker replied. "Should we play a game?"
"Oh it smells fantastic," Nicky said with a big smile as they walked through the Christmas village. "And the cookies. They're this way."
Booker was still impressed by Nicky's cookie radar as he called it. Nicky could smell a cookie from a distance that much Booker was sure off.
"No, young man," Booker said as he steered Nicky in the other direction. "This way first."
"Ok," Nicky replied as he looked over his shoulder. "But I want a cookie later."
Booker led them to the other side of the Christmas village. Along the way, Nicky got a stuffed Elf that he named Chris since it was Christmas.
"I'm looking for Bridget," Booker said to a young man.
"Behind the barn," The young man replied. "You can't miss it."
"Thanks," Booker replied. "This way, Nicky."
Booker took Nicky's hand so he wouldn't fall in the mud.
"Why does it smell like cow poop?" Nicky wanted to know.
"Wrong animal, Nicky," Booker replied as he saw a woman. "Are you Bridget?"
"Yes, I'm," Bridget replied. "And you must be Sebastien and Nicky."
"We're," Booker replied. "You told me you could help Nicky."
"With what?" Nicky wanted to know.
"Your brother told me you wanted to see a reindeer," Bridget replied. "And I got 20 of them."
Nicky lit up in a big smile before he hugged Booker.
"Thanks, Seb," Nicky said feeling so happy. "Just want I wanted for Christmas."
"I'm glad you like your Christmas gift," Booker replied. "Is it so Nicky can see your face first, Bridget?"
"No problem," Bridget replied as she kneeled in front of Nicky. "Take all your time, Nicky."
After looking at Bridget, Bridget took Nicky's hand while Booker followed behind.
"I can't show you a male reindeer, because I only got females," Bridget said. "But after you have seen a reindeer I'm going to show you the antlers you can find on a male reindeer."
"That's more than fine," Nicky replied. "Are they nice your reindeer?"
"Some more than others," Bridget replied. "In a way, they're like siblings who sometimes get along, while other times they don't."
"Just like me and Seb," Nicky said. "But we're friends most of the time. We only fight when Seb wants me to eat Brussel sprouts."
"I still say they're healthy," Booker said as he jumped to the side when one of the reindeer was getting too close to him for his taste.
Bridget stopped in front of one of the reindeer.
"This is Eve. Her job is to pull my sleigh here in the Christmas village," Bridget said. "Give me your hand, Nicky, and you can touch Eve's muzzle."
Nicky looked over at Booker for some support. When Booker placed a hand on Nicky's shoulder, Nicky gave Bridget his hand before Bridget placed Nicky's hand on Eve's muzzle.
"She is soft and warm," Nicky said before he started to giggle. "And she is licking my hand."
"She thinks you got a carrot for her," Bridget said. "Do you want to give her one?"
"Yes, please," Nicky replied with a big smile. "I once gave a horse a carrot. It burped afterwards."
"Sounds fun," Bridget replied. "Here's a carrot."
Bridget handed Nicky a carrot, who held it out and Eve ate it. After two carrots, Bridget found the antlers, which Nicky had to admit was one of the most impressive things he ever had seen with his hands. Then Nicky hugged Booker and Bridget.
"Thanks, I'll never forget this Christmas gift," Nicky said. "It was one of the best."
"It isn't over yet," Bridget said. "You still miss trying a sledge ride."
"Come, Seb," Nicky said as he pulled Booker's hand. "It's going to be fun."
Booker really didn't fancy going on a sledge ride, but once again he couldn't say no to Nicky. After being tucked under blankets, Bridget got the sledge going.
"This is fun," Nicky said with a big smile. "Isn't it, Seb?"
"I have to admit it's," Booker replied. "Maybe we can turn it into a Christmas tradition."
"I would love that," Nicky replied. "Thanks, Seb, for a great Christmas gift."
"I'm glad you liked it," Booker replied as he placed an arm around Nicky's shoulders.
After the sledge ride, Booker took a photo of Nicky standing next to Eve. Then Booker and Nicky thanked Bridget once again for all her help.
"Let's find some lunch," Booker said. "You must be hungry."
"I'm hungry," Nicky replied. "For cookies."
"Nice try, young man," Booker replied. "Come I saw a place where you could get pies."
"That does sound good," Nicky replied. "I hope they have a pork pie. They taste good."
They sat down at a table to eat their pork pies.
"So, Nicky," Booker said. "Do you have any other Christmas wishes this year?"
"Not really. I wished to see a reindeer and I got that, so I'm happy," Nicky replied before drinking the rest of his juice. "Can I please have more?"
Booker got him another juice box.
"Don't drink it all at once," Booker said when he handed Nicky the juice box.
"I promise," Nicky replied. "Speaking of Christmas gifts. I need to get one for you."
"I'm sure Andy can help you with that," Booker replied. "Are you sure you don't have any more Christmas wishes?"
Nicky thought for a moment.
"There's one thing," Nicky said. "I wish for music with Blur."
"Noted," Booker replied. "Anything else?"
"No," Nicky replied before eating the last of his pork pie. "Can I have a cookie now that I have eaten the pork pie?"
Booker laughed.
"You're a bottomless pit, little brother," Booker said with a smile. "Yes, you can have one cookie."
"Just one?" Nicky asked. "Why is it I can only eat one cookie when Santa can eat over a billiard cookies in one night?"
"The difference between you and Santa is that Santa is jumping from chimney to chimney burning energy," Booker replied. "It's hard work after all."
"So, what you're saying is that if I jump from chimney to chimney I can eat more cookies?" Nicky wanted to know. "Where do I find the nearest chimneys?"
"The last time I checked you aren't Santa," Booker said. "And have you thought about that if you were Santa you have to be outside in the cold in the middle of the night?"
"Ok, now that you say it. I don't want to leave my bed in the middle of the night," Nicky replied. "But can I have two cookies today?"
"Yes, you can," Booker replied. "And then we need to head home. It's getting late."
"Thanks," Nicky replied. "Can't wait to have my three cookies."
"We agreed on two," Booker said.
"I'm sure I heard three cookies," Nicky replied as he held up Trixie. "And Trixie says the same."
Booker shook his head with a smile. Nicky didn't get to eat his cookies, because he fell asleep the moment he sat down on the seat on the train. Booker placed his jacket over Nicky to keep him warm. When Booker looked at Nicky, he knew he would never forget how happy Nicky had been for getting his Christmas gift. Booker then started to search for more Christmas gifts for Nicky. This year Booker wanted to spoil Nicky.